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PRESS BOX: Dodgers, Cardinals name NLCS starters

The St. Louis Cardinals and Los Angeles Dodgers announced their rotations for the first two games of the National League Championship Series on Thursday.

The Boston Red Sox also announced their starter for Game 1 of the American League Championship Series. They are awaiting the winner of Game 5 of the AL Division Series between the Detroit Tigers and Oakland Athletics on Thursday.

In the NLCS, St. Louis' Joe Kelly opposes Los Angeles' Zack Greinke in Game 1 on Friday. In Saturday's Game 2, the Cardinals' Michael Wacha faces the Dodgers' Clayton Kershaw. St. Louis will start Adam Wainwright in Game 3 on Monday. The Dodgers did not announce a starter.

In Game 1 of the ALCS on Saturday, the Red Sox will start Jon Lester. If the A's advance, they will likely start Bartolo Colon. If the Tigers move on, either Max Scherzer or Anibal Sanchez figures to take the mound.

NBA

---Center Brendan Haywood is unlikely to play for the Charlotte Bobcats until at least the first week of January because of a stress fracture in his left foot that will require surgery.

Haywood turns 34 in November. The 7-footer was a first-round pick in 2001, playing for the Washington Wizards until 2010. He spent the next three seasons with the Dallas Mavericks.

Haywood played in 61 games in 2012-13, his first season with the Bobcats, and averaged 6.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 1.4 blocked shots per game.

---Hall of Famer Magic Johnson will not return to ESPN as an NBA analyst.

Johnson said in a statement released by ESPN on Thursday that his busy schedule will not allow him to perform his duties as an analyst.

"I don't feel confident that I can continue to devote the time needed to thrive in my role," he said.

NHL

---Buffalo Sabres goaltender Ryan Miller was expected to start Thursday's game against the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Miller has a 1.53 goals-against average but is 0-2 this season.

He missed the past two games with a lower-body injury but went through the Sabres' morning skate Thursday.

Franchitti is traveling to Indianapolis, where he will be re-evaluated in the next few days and will eventually have a second surgery to his right ankle, which was previously stabilized.

Franchitti was taken to the hospital after suffering injuries from a crash on the last lap of Sunday's Shell-Pennzoil Grand Prix of Houston. He sustained a concussion, two spinal fractures and a fracture to his right ankle.

GOLF

---Lydia Ko, a 16-year-old amateur from New Zealand, has petitioned the LPGA to waive its age limit and allow her to join the tour.

Ko is already a two-time winner on the tour and is ranked No. 5 in the world. She has been ranked as high as No. 4 after defending her title at the Canadian Women's Open this year.